Meningitis, a disease which can be prevented with a simple vaccine, is raising its ugly head due to lack of awareness among people. The growing incidence of the disease is a cause for concern all over the world.
There are an estimated 12 lakh people suffering from the disease worldwide and about 40 per cent of them are believed to be Indians. Sporadic cases are being reported in Visakhapatnam but there are no official statistics.
Meningitis, which is the inflammation, caused by viral or bacterial infection of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain, could affect persons of any age.
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The common symptoms of meningitis are: fever, vomitting, fits and refusal to take food and crying among children. Exclusive breast-feeding for six months from the birth of the child is important to develop ‘disease resistance’ in the child. Indian Association of Paediatrics (IAP), Visakhapatnam branch, president G.V. Subrahmanyam and secretary Ravi Kiran Reddy. K called for greater awareness among the public at a media conference on the eve of World Meningitis Day on Thursday. IAP treasurer P. Venkateswarlu representatives K. Radhakrishna, B. Rajasekhar and R. Atchum Naidu were present.